Petunia plant named &#39;BBTUN04401&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Petunia  plant named ‘BBTUN04401’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; freely branching habit; dense and bushy plant form; early and freely flowering habit; white-colored flowers with yellow green-colored venation and centers; and excellent garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia X hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BBTUN04401’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION AND STATEMENT REGARDING PRIORDISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

This application claims priority to a Canadian Plant Breeders' Rightsapplication filed on May 17, 2019, application number 19-9875. Therehave been no offers for sale anywhere in the world prior to theeffective filing date of this Application and no accessibility to one ofordinary skill in the art could have been derived from the printed PlantBreeder's Rights documents.

The Inventor/Applicant asserts that no publications nor advertisementsrelating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred morethan one year prior to the effective filing date of this application.Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from adirect or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. Applicant claims aprior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/orsales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to theeffective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petuniaplant, botanically known as Petunia X hybrida and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘BBTUN04401’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Bonsall, Calif. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new vigorous, freely-branching anduniformly mounding Petunia plants with early and freely flowering habit,unique attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor on Oct. 5, 2016 in Bonsall, Calif. of a proprietary seedlingselection of Petunia X hybrida identified as code number 16PB873-02, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with Petunia X hybrida‘Duesurirnwi’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,870, as the male, orpollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall,Calif. on May 19, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. sinceJun. 1, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Petuniaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘BBTUN04401’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘BBTUN04401’ as a new and distinct Petuniaplant:

-   -   1 Upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.    -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy plant form.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. White-colored flowers with yellow green-colored venation and        centers.    -   6. Excellent garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differprimarily from plants of the female parent selection in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more vigorous than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia are denser and bushier than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Petunia have white-colored flowers with        yellow green-colored venation and centers whereas plants of the        female parent selection have cream-colored flowers with light        brown-colored venation and centers.    -   4. Plants of the new Petunia perform better in the garden than        plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parent,‘Duesurimwi’. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petuniadiffer primarily from plants of ‘Duesurimwi’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more outwardly spreading, more        vigorous and larger than plants of ‘Duesurimwi’.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia are more freely branching and        denser and bushier than plants of ‘Duesurimwi’.    -   3. Plants of the new Petunia perform better in the garden than        plants of ‘Duesurimwi’.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of ‘USTUNI6001’,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,730. In side-by-side comparisons,plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of ‘USTUNI6001’in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more vigorous than plants of        ‘USTUNI6001’.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia are more outwardly spreading than        and not as upright as plants of ‘USTUNI6001’.    -   3. Plants of the new Petunia are denser and bushier than plants        of ‘USTUNI6001’.    -   4. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘USTUNI6001’ differ in flower        color as plants of the new Petunia have white-colored flowers        with yellow green-colored venation and centers whereas plants of        ‘USTUNI6001’ have bright pink-colored flowers with red        purple-colored venation.    -   5. Plants of the new Petunia perform better in the garden than        plants of ‘USTUNI6001’.

Plants of the new Petunia can also be compared to plants of ‘KL 1117’,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,485. In side-by-side comparisons,plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of ‘KL 1117’ inthe following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more vigorous and larger than        plants of ‘KL 1117’.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia are more outwardly spreading than        and not as upright as plants of ‘KL 1117’.    -   3. Plants of the new Petunia are denser and bushier than plants        of ‘KL 1117’.    -   4. Plants of the new Petunia perform better in the garden than        plants of ‘KL 1117’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Petunia plant.

At the top of the photographic sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘BBTUN04401’ grown in a container and atthe bottom of the photographic sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘BBTUN04401’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the spring in 15.25-cmcontainers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in St. Thomas, Ontario,Canada and under cultural practices typical of commercial Petuniaproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperaturesaveraged 27° C. and night temperatures averaged 15° C. Plants werepinched three weeks after planting and were ten weeks from plantingrooted cuttings when the photographs and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia X hybrida ‘BBTUN04401’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of            Petunia X hybrida identified as code number 16PB873-02, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Petunia X hybrida ‘Duesurimwi’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,870.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three to four days at            ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About five to seven days at            ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About three weeks at            ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About four weeks at            ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and            mounding plant habit; freely branching habit with about 16            primary lateral branches each with about eight secondary            branches developing per plant, dense and bushy plant form;            pinching enhances development of lateral branches; vigorous            growth habit and rapid growth rate.        -   Plant height.—About 28.1 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 66.9 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 20.2 cm. Diameter: About            2.7 mm. Internode length: About 3.1 cm. Strength: Moderately            strong; flexible, not brittle. Aspect: Initially upright            then outwardly spreading to almost horizontal. Texture and            luster: Densely pubescent; matte. Color, developing: Close            to 144A. Color, developed: Close to 137B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate before flowering; opposite after            flowers develop; leaves simple.        -   Length.—About 3.7 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire, not undulate.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Moderately            pubescent; matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing and fully developed leaves, upper surface:            Close to N137C; venation, close to 144A. Developing and            fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C;            venation, close to 144A.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 4.1 mm. Diameter: About 2.3 mm.            Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture and luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Densely pubescent; matte. Color, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 138A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single terminal and            axillary salverform flowers; flowers face mostly upward to            outwardly; freely flowering habit with about 272 flower buds            and open flowers per plant at one time.        -   Natural flowering season.—Long day responsive; long            flowering period, plants flower from early spring until            frost in the autumn, flowering continuous during this            period; early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about            six weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About five to seven days;            flowers not persistent.        -   Fragrance.—Faint; sweet, pleasant.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Shape: Oblong, elongate. Texture and luster: Pubescent;            matte. Color, sepals: Close to 144C. Color, petals: Close to            1D.        -   Flower diameter.—About 4.4 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 4.1 cm.        -   Throat diameter, distal.—About 7 mm.        -   Tube length.—About 2.6 cm.        -   Tube diameter, distally.—About 8 mm.        -   Tube diameter, proximally.—About 2 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals fused in a            single salverform whorl. Petal lobe length (from throat):            About 1.8 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2.1 cm. Petal lobe            shape: Spatulate. Petal lobe apex: Obtuse to slightly            cuspidate. Petal lobe margin: Entire; slightly to moderately            undulate. Petal lobe texture and luster, upper surface:            Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Petal lobe texture and            luster, lower surface: Densely pubescent; matte. Throat            texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Tube texture            and luster: Densely pubescent; matte. Color: When opening            and fully opened, upper surface: Close to NN155D; venation,            close to 144B; color does not change with development. When            opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to NN155D;            venation, close to 144B; color does not change with            development. Flower throat (inside): Close to 153D;            venation, close to 144B. Flower tube (outside): Close to 2C;            venation, close to 145A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals fused in a            single star-shaped whorl. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About            3 mm. Shape: Narrowly oblong. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.            Texture and luster, upper surface: Moderately to densely            pubescent; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface:            Moderately pubescent; matte. Color: When opening and fully            developed, upper surface: Close to N137A. When opening and            fully developed, lower surface: Close to 147D.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About 1.5 mm.            Strength: Strong; wiry and flexible, not brittle. Angle:            About 45° from stem axis. Texture and luster: Densely            pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.            Filament length: About 1.9 cm. Filament color: Close to 2D.            Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Bi-lobed. Anther            color: Close to 11D. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:            Close to 10D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil            length: About 1.8 cm. Style length: About 1.7 cm. Style            color: Close to 145B. Stigma diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma            shape: Round. Stigma color: Close to 144C. Ovary color:            Close to 143C.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development has            not been observed on plants of the new Petunia.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Petunia have    not been noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to    Petunia plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to    have excellent garden performance and have been observed to tolerate    rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘BBTUN04401’ asillustrated and described.